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Lee Asher
Lee Asher
Lee Asher
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Lee Asher (born 1976) is a close-up magician noted for originating new card tricks and hypnotic[1] sleight of hand moves.[2] He is considered an expert in playing cards, and as a collector is especially known for his work with 52 Plus Joker, the American Playing Card Collectors Club, of which he is the serving President.[3] He has served as a magic consultant for professional magicians such as Greg Frewin.

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Lee Asher was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the older of two children. His father Mark Horowitz managed an optometric practice, but was a semi-professional magician who learned magic as a boy from Al Flosso and Lou Tannen in New York City in the 1960s.

He attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland until 1994, and in 1999 completed a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality (with an emphasis on Casino Administration) at the University of Nevada/Las Vegas. During these student years, he would often sneak into casinos like the Golden Nugget, and watch magician Michael Skinner, who would later influence his magic. He had a job doing magic demonstrations at the Magic Mansion, and from 1996 to 1997 worked at Caesars Magical Empire in Caesars Palace to perform card magic under the character title "Cardius Sharkus", working with world-famous magicians including Earl Nelson, Jeff McBride, Chappy Brazil, Joey Burton, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Jonathan Pendragon.

Education

[edit]

Lee Asher attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida until 1994, and then enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from which Lee graduated with honors. During this time, Lee would frequently sneak into casinos such as the Golden Nugget to watch master magician Michael Skinner who would later influence his magic.

Magic career

[edit]

Asher knew that he wanted to be a magician from an early age. His first magic gigs were wherever he could get a job on evenings and weekends, but his real passion came from inventing magic. At the young age of 15, he invented a technique titled 'The Asher Twist'.[4]

He earned first place as Junior Close-up Champion of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (1991 and 1992), and was a featured lecturer at the inaugural Session Convention, a British convention for close-up magicians, in 2006.

Since then, Lee has appeared multiple times on prime time television, on channels such as the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and 'The World's Greatest Magic on NBC, delivered lectures on magic around the world, and made guest appearances at magic camps[5] and magic podcasts.[6]

Asher has published extensively, including in magic industry magazines such as Trapdoor, Channel One, The Penumbra, The Magic Circle, Apocalypse, Labyrinth, and Genii Magazine. He is also part of CURIOSIDADES, a group of magicians formed by BJ Bueno to bring magic to Bueno's home country (Dominican Republic).[7]

Playing cards

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Asher is highly regarded for his contributions and expertise as a collector of playing cards. In 2016 he became the youngest-ever president of 52 Plus Joker, an American playing card collectors club. He is also actively involved in the publication of their magazine, Card Culture.

He is known for his passion for Jerry's Nugget playing cards, and is considered instrumental in popularizing the original decks, and in 2019 spearheaded a very successful project to recreate them, with a Kickstarter project raising almost half a million dollars with the help of over 4,000 backers. In collaboration with several other magicians, he was also involved in the successful project for crowdfunding the Conjuror Community deck of playing cards, which raised $142,543 with 1,694 backers.

Awards and honors

[edit]

Published works

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Lee Asher's mainstream releases:

  • (1995) Cooking with Lee Asher VHS
  • (1999) Well Done VHS
  • (1998) Sex Sells Booklet
  • (1998) Thinking Out Loud Booklet
  • (1999) Five Card Stud VHS
  • (1999) Le Asher Booklet
  • (2000) Pulp Friction Booklet
  • (2001) Close Cover Before Striking Booklet
  • (2001) Hand Jobs Booklet
  • (2002) Five Card Stud DVD
  • (2003) Hit the Road DVD
  • (2004) Losing Control Cd-Rom
  • (2004) Catch 33: Three Card Monte PDF
  • (2005) Diving Board Double PDF
  • (2005) Three Stylin Booklet
  • (2005) On Tour with Michael Ammar
  • (2006) Asher Twist DVD
  • (2007) Thunderbird: The Modern Ace Production PDF
  • (2007) WITNESS: A Lesson in Simplicity DVD
  • (2008) Nu Sense co-produced with Alain Nu
  • (2009) Lee Asher Signature Series 605s High Quality Playing Cards printed by Naipes Heraclio Fournier
  • (2010) Losing Control PDF
  • (2010) Jerry's Nugget playing cards Care and Handling Guide
  • (2012) Conditioning and Care Guide for your 605 playing cards printed by Naipes Heraclio Fournier
  • (2012) Asher Twist DVD (HD)
  • (2013) Catch 33: Three Card Monte PDF Update

Notes

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Lee Asher

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Lee Asher (born 1976) is an American close-up magician noted for originating innovative card tricks, such as the "Asher Twist," and hypnotic techniques. Raised by a semi-professional magician father, he began performing magic at a young age, winning first place at the Close-Up Championships in 1991 and 1992, and has since lectured internationally in cities including , , and . As a prominent expert and collector of s, Asher has served as president of 52 Plus Joker, the world's largest playing card collectors club, since 2016—the youngest in its —and acts as of its publication, CARD CULTURE. He has consulted for professional magicians and appeared on television programs such as the and .

Early life

Childhood and family background

Lee Asher was born on August 25, 1988, in New York. He grew up in Broward County, . Asher was raised in a narcissistic family environment, where his parents struggled with depression. This home life contributed to his feelings of being an outcast, like "a piece of a puzzle that was out of place." He faced significant personal challenges, including a diagnosis of severe (ADHD), which affected his learning and retention unless he was passionate about the subject. Additionally, Asher was diagnosed with , requiring him to wear a large , which led to relentless and physical mistreatment at school. These experiences left deep emotional scars and shaped his early years.

Introduction to animal rescue

Asher found solace from his difficult childhood in animals, becoming an avid animal lover from a young age. During high school, he began at animal shelters, where he started fostering dogs, parrots, and pigs. Interacting with scared and abandoned animals in the shelters transformed his emotional pain into joy, igniting his lifelong passion for and rescue. These early experiences laid the foundation for his future work in animal advocacy.

Education

High school

Lee Asher grew up in Broward County, , where he attended high school in the mid-2000s. During this period, he faced significant challenges, including bullying due to that required wearing a , as well as severe learning disabilities such as ADHD. These issues led him to classes, where he struggled with traditional learning methods like textbooks and lectures, finding it difficult to retain information unless the subject deeply interested him. To cope with the emotional pain from his family environment and , Asher sought refuge in local animal shelters, where he began fostering dogs, parrots, and pigs—experiences that sparked his lifelong passion for animal rescue.

Higher education and early career

Details on Asher's post-secondary education are limited, but he attended college before entering the financial industry in . His academic background supported his corporate role in , which he held until 2017, when, at around age 28, he left to pursue animal advocacy full-time. While formal played a role in his professional start, Asher's self-directed learning through hands-on animal fostering during high school and beyond was instrumental in shaping his expertise in .

Playing cards involvement

Role in collecting community

Lee Asher has served as president of 52 Plus Joker, the world's largest collectors club founded in 1985, since 2016, when he became the youngest person to hold the position. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to support thousands of members worldwide through educational resources, online forums, and exclusive access to historical materials on production and design. As president, Asher also serves as editor-in-chief of Card Culture, the club's quarterly publication, where he curates articles on card history and techniques to foster community engagement. Asher has promoted playing card history within the collecting community by organizing annual events such as the 52 Plus Joker Convention, which brings together enthusiasts for lectures, auctions, and displays of rare decks dating back centuries. He has overseen the establishment and continuation of National Playing Card Collection Day, an annual observance since 2016 that encourages collectors to share and celebrate their decks through submissions and virtual showcases, culminating in awards like the Diamond Award for outstanding designs. These initiatives, including member-exclusive auctions and historical research archives, have expanded the club's reach and preserved documentation on over 500 years of card manufacturing evolution. Asher maintains a personal collection organized into antique (pre-1900), (1900–1980), and modern (post-1980) categories, with a particular emphasis on decks that reflect shifts in and artistic styles. His holdings include rare examples from early American manufacturers, acquired through auctions and private trades facilitated by the club, which he occasionally references in community discussions to illustrate historical context. Through interviews and published guides, Asher has advocated for playing card collecting as an accessible hobby that connects , , and craftsmanship, emphasizing preservation techniques and value assessment for newcomers. In his 2021 Card Collecting Guide, distributed by 52 Plus Joker, he provides practical advice on sourcing decks, grading conditions, and building themed collections, drawing from his dual expertise in —where he incorporates collectible decks into performances—to highlight the hobby's performative and cultural dimensions.

Custom deck designs and collaborations

Lee Asher's involvement in custom playing card designs began notably with the 2009 release of the 605 Signature Series, produced in collaboration with the Spanish manufacturer . This deck was specifically engineered for enhanced handling in sleight-of-hand and , utilizing Fournier's premium first-grade paper stock to provide a thicker, heavier feel compared to standard USPCC casino-grade cards. The design features subdued green and brown tones with a aesthetic reminiscent of early 20th-century playing cards, including individually cut edges for precise alignment and durability during extended use. Each deck in the series was crafted without or extra cards, emphasizing purity and functionality for professional performers. Beyond the 605 series, Asher has engaged in collaborations with manufacturers such as the (USPCC) for limited-edition decks that align with magic themes, often leveraging his expertise to ensure suitability for intricate manipulations. These partnerships have resulted in specialized releases that prioritize smooth finishes and reliable stock for card flourishes and illusions, drawing on his advocacy for decks that support advanced techniques like twists and productions. His role as president of the 52 Plus Joker Playing Card Collectors Club since 2016 has further facilitated such design opportunities, enabling the creation of themed editions that celebrate magic history. As of Card Culture, the digital monthly of the 52 Plus Joker club, Asher curates content on histories, innovations, and designs, highlighting decks optimized for . The publication, which he has overseen since its inception, includes in-depth analyses of custom productions and manufacturer techniques, promoting for collectors and magicians alike. Issues up to 2025 continue to feature endorsements of high-quality , underscoring Asher's commitment to advancing deck standards. In recent years through 2025, Asher has endorsed reproductions like the Vintage Feel Jerry's Nuggets series, printed by Expert Playing Card Company in collaboration with USPCC affiliates, for their authentic thin-crushed stock and traditional cut that excels in professional magic routines. These limited runs, limited to 1,000 decks per colorway in gilded editions, reflect his ongoing influence in selecting decks that balance collectibility with practical demands.

Awards and honors

Competition victories

Lee Asher secured first place in the () Junior competition in 1991 at the organization's annual convention in , . This victory, achieved at the age of 15, showcased his emerging proficiency in card magic within the junior category. The following year, Asher repeated his success by winning first place again in the IBM Junior Close-up Magic competition during the 1992 convention in , . These consecutive triumphs at such a young age marked him as a prodigy in card magic, drawing early attention from the professional community. In addition to these major wins, Asher participated in other junior-level contests during the early , further solidifying his as a promising talent in the field. The back-to-back IBM victories provided a significant early boost to his career, opening doors to professional opportunities in magic.

Industry recognitions

Lee Asher has been widely recognized by peers in the and communities as a leading expert in and . His distinctive visual style of has been described as "easily recognized and universally acknowledged," with contributions featured in prominent industry publications such as Genii Magazine, MAGIC Magazine, and The Linking Ring. In acknowledgment of his contributions to playing card collecting and history, Asher received the Lifetime Achievement Dawson Award from the 52 Plus Joker Playing Card Collectors Club in 2022, an honor bestowed infrequently to individuals who have significantly advanced the field. This recognition underscores his role as president of the club since 2016, where he has promoted research and education on s, building on a family legacy of expertise in the domain. Asher's innovative effects have earned notable acclaim, including his poker chip routine "Three Stylin'," which fooled Penn & Teller during a performance on their television show Fool Us by magician Simon Coronel in 2015. Additionally, he has been invited to serve in prestigious judging roles, such as on the 2017 Chinese reality competition Amazing Magicians, hosted by actress Fan Bingbing, where he evaluated international performers alongside fellow experts—a position he regarded as one of the most exhilarating honors of his career. Beyond these, Asher's expertise has led to repeated invitations for global lectures and consultations, affirming his status as a multi-honored figure in international magic circles, with engagements spanning conventions and educational platforms worldwide.

Published works

Lee Asher authored The Asher House Adventure (2019), a large-format chronicling his two-year journey across 49 U.S. states in an RV with rescue dogs to promote shelter adoptions and raise awareness about animal overpopulation. The self-published volume, funded through a successful campaign launched in 2018, spans over 350 pages and weighs 5 pounds, featuring photographs, stories, and insights from the trip. It sold out within 24 hours of its release. As of November 2025, Asher is collaborating with on a forthcoming book about his experiences building The Asher House sanctuary and advancing animal rescue efforts, slated for release in summer 2026.

References

  1. http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Lee_Asher
  2. https://www.leeasher.com/about.php
  3. https://www.theory11.com/about/artists/lee-asher
  4. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2024/04/07/who-is-lee-asher-5-things-about-animal-rescue-icon-the-asher-house/73202670007/
  5. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/lee-asher.html
  6. https://rudermanfoundation.org/podcasts/lee-asher-how-rescuing-dogs-rescue-us/
  7. https://talkinganimals.net/2024/04/lee-asher-dog-adoption-champion-social-media-juggernaut/
  8. https://www.leeasher.com/blog/52-plus-joker-playing-card-collectors-club.php
  9. https://www.antiquetrader.com/features/52-plus-joker
  10. https://52plusjoker.org/contact/
  11. https://52plusjoker.org/52-plus-joker-convention-2022-pittsburgh-pennsylvania/
  12. https://52plusjoker.org/diamond-award-winners/
  13. https://www.playingcardforum.com/index.php?topic=9785.0
  14. https://52plusjoker.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/card-collecting-guide-asher.pdf
  15. https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/165/blogpost/97204/q-and-a-with-magician-and-collector-lee-asher-pres
  16. https://whiteknucklecards.com/gallery/leeasher.html
  17. https://www.theory11.com/forums/threads/fournier-605-deck-review-lee-asher-series.23657/
  18. https://www.playingcardforum.com/index.php?topic=13022.0
  19. https://playingcarddecks.com/products/vintage-feel-jerrys-nugget-black-gilded-playing-cards
  20. https://www.leeasher.com/blog/jerrys-nugget-playing-cards.php
  21. https://www.magician.org/about/IBM-Contests
  22. https://ibmconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/I.B.M.-Souvenir-Program_2021.pdf
  23. https://www.lybrary.com/lee-asher-m-92778.html
  24. https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/how-playing-card-improvements-have-helped-card-magic
  25. https://www.leeasher.com/store/three-stylin-poker-chip-trick-tutorial.php
  26. https://www.leeasher.com/blog/amazing-magicians-tv-show.php
  27. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1703538975/the-asher-house-adventure
  28. https://www.facebook.com/TheAsherHouse/posts/1975082596127505
  29. https://www.facebook.com/TheAsherHouse/posts/1394027262091215
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